Home away from home

Create a warm and inviting guest room that will make visitors feel welcome

November 06, 2009|By Allison E. Beatty, SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

As you plan for holiday visitors, let your guest room decor take center stage. Pick a theme, bring in the fine bedding and soft pillows, and create that four-star hotel feeling. Your guests will be sure to book a return visit.

"The design of your guest room is very important because it should make your guests feel very comfortable and invited," said Sally Meier, an interior decorator and owner of KLM Interiors in Spring Grove. "You want everybody to feel like they're a part of your family."

There are many ways to transform a guest room in a few weeks, focusing on fabrics, furniture and painting. As you plan the project, look for decor that can do double duty. That way you can turn the guest room into a craft room or reading nook after the guests leave.

That family feeling starts with a few warm and fuzzy touches. Earth-toned paint colors, plump pillows, a basket of magazines, and a cozy reading nook all help create the mood. If your guest room has its own bathroom -- and you lay out the robe and slippers -- your guests will think they have landed in a fine hotel.

The location of the guest room is key, as it will help define the overall atmosphere. Does it allow for privacy? Is there a connecting bathroom? These are important factors when planning a warm and cozy environment for your guests.

You want to strike that balance between having guests nearby and giving them private space away from the hustle and bustle of family life. "Your guests should be able to get ready in the morning without mingling with the family," said Helen Velas, president of Eleni Interiors, an interior design firm in Naperville.

A bathroom and coffee bar can go a long way in creating such a private haven. A guest can shower, put on a soft, fuzzy bathrobe and sip coffee without walking through the rest of the house. A well-stocked coffee bar should include a small, undercounter refrigerator, a coffee maker, microwave, and a few dishes and utensils. Add a few muffins or bagels to sweeten the package.

This type of private, all-inclusive setting helps your guests relax and can save your sanity. You may want your own quiet time to spend with the kids at the end of the day or to unwind with a good book. "When the guests go into the room and shut the doors, it lets you relax," Velas said.

Many guest rooms are on the second floor, typically at the end of a hall and away from the children's bedrooms. Those who have older visitors, however, sometimes prefer a first-floor location near the kitchen or family room. "If the guest room is for their parents, they don't want them going up and down stairs all the time," said Diane Durpetti, design center manager for Shodeen Residential, which is building at Mill Creek in Geneva.

A first-floor guest room could be placed near a powder room that is expanded to include a shower stall. This creates the perfect getaway -- close to the hub of the home, yet self-contained. "If they get up early before everyone else, the kitchen is right there," Durpetti said.

The decor of the guest room also can go a long way in creating just the right mood. Start with a color palette that coordinates with the rest of the house. This improves the flow of the decor throughout the house and reinforces the sense that the guest room and its guests are part of the main living space, Meier said.

When it's holiday time, it's nice to add a few seasonal decorations to round out the theme. Autumn harvest decorations or wreaths and holiday lights are just a few examples. "You want to add a little sparkle and holiday feel without taking away from the regular decor," Velas said.

Among the other decorating options are:

*Table lamps that enhance the design and add functionality for nighttime reading. Try a pendant that hangs over the nightstand.

*Scented candles or fresh-cut flowers. Be sure to place burning candles out of the reach of children or pets.

*If space permits, an electric fireplace for added warmth and ambience. Some of these are portable and can be moved to other rooms.

*A built-in bookshelf with a window seat.

As you plan the decor, consider how you'll use the space after the holidays. Many guest rooms can double as a reading room, craft room or child's playroom. Just make sure the furniture offers some flexibility.

A daybed saves space and may have a trundle that can be pulled out when guests need a place to sleep, for example. Toys can be hidden in a chest that fits at the end of the bed. Crafts can be stored in bins and tucked away in the closet.